Country

Thailand

The Kingdom of Thailand or the "Land of Smiles" is located in the heart of the Southeast Asia, spanning across an area of about 513,115 km2. The country's shape and geography consist of four natural regions: mountainous areas in the North, rice fields of the Central Plains, semi-arid farmlands of the Northeast, and tropical islands and long coastlines of the peninsula South. The country has 77 provinces with Bangkok as the capital city and center of political, commercial, industrial, and cultural activities. Thailand is a constitutional monarchy with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, or King Rama IX, as the present and the longest reigning Thai Monarch. Rich diversity of cultures and traditions, tropical climate, and renowned hospitality make Thailand one the top tourist destinations.

Capital

Bangkok: The metropolitan Bangkok or Krung Thep Mahanakhon (“the city of angels”), the capital of Thailand, is located in the middle of the country. The city occupied 1,569 km2 and has a population more than 10 million people (or 12.7 percent of the country’s population). The city was founded in 1782 by King Rama I, the first king of the present Chakri dynasty. Currently, Bangkok is the cultural, educational, political and economic center of Thailand. Bangkok is full of interesting places worth visiting ranging from cultural attractions like Thailand historic Grand Palace and Buddhist temples including the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaeo), the Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun), and Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho), to arts and lifestyle destinations including the National Museum, Vimanmek Mansion, and shopping complexes. The city also offers a wide selection of tasty Thai and international cuisine.

People

Language

National Flag

The red, white, and blue stripes symbolize the nation, Buddhism and the monarchy, respectively.

Religion

Buddhism (95%), Muslim (4%), others (1%)

Thai Cultures and Arts

Culture:Thai culture and cuisine are influenced by China, Cambodia, and India. Thai visual arts were traditionally Buddhist. Thai temples and Buddha images from different periods have a number of distinctive styles, evolving from various sources, one of them being Khmer architecture.

Dance:Ram Thai or Thai dance, similar to many forms of traditional Asian dance, can be divided into two major categories: high art (classical dance) and low art (folk dance). Examples of major forms of Thai classical dance drama are "Khon", "Menora dance", and "Likay".

Climate

Thailand enjoys a tropical climate with a rainy season from June to October and a dry season the rest of the year. Temperatures average 75 to 92 degrees Fahrenheit, with the highest temperatures from March to May and the lowest in December and January. There are three seasons: the cool season (November to February), the hot season (April to May), and the rainy season (June to October).

Electricity

Telephone services

Geographic (fixed line) area codes are, excluding the trunk prefix 0, one digit in Bangkok and nearby provinces (area code 2) and two digits in provinces (area codes 3x, 4x, 5x, and 7x). For Bangkok calls “02” is added to the existing numbers. For provincial calls, an area code is added to the existing numbers. When making a call to Nakhon Pathom, “034” is added to the existing numbers. The international dialing code for Thailand is 66. For making international calls to Thailand, add 66 and omit the leading 0. When making international calls from Thailand, first dial 001 + country code + area code + telephone number.

Public transport

Buses are one of the major methods of transportation for people. Taxis are one of the convenient ways of getting around the city, as they can be found almost anywhere. Fares are very affordable, and taxis operate on a meter system. The Skytrain (BTS) and underground rail systems (MRT) are very convenient and connect the main shopping, entertainment and business areas of the city.